Introduction
Vana Veroutis (full name Evanthia Verouti) is a Greek singer/songwriter who learned to play the guitar at the age of 12. She grew up in Buenos Aires, and returned to Athens at the age of 10 where she studied interior decoration and classical guitar, and attended philosophy classes. At the age of 17 Vana moved to Italy to perform Italian versions of the songs of famous Greek composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis and Stavros Xarchakos.
In 1969, while living in Rome and recording an album for RCA, she met Vangelis by chance. The two had met before in Athens, and as Vangelis liked her voice he asked her to sing an Italian version of his latest hit “I Want To Live”. At that moment Vangelis was touring with Aphrodite’s Child in Italy, and temporarily based in Rome. Vana and Vangelis recorded the song ‘Ed Ora Si’ in a studio in Rome, the session only took two hours. To complete a single release Vangelis composed another song especially for Vana, titled ‘Tu C’Eri Gia’, a short but frenzy tune performed with a full orchestra. About this experience Vana remembered “Vangelis can be a great magician when he wants to. He can make you sing like an angel”. Both songs are co-produced by Jean-Pierre Rawson, the manager of "Aphrodite’s Child" at the time. Demis and Lucas were not involved in the recordings.
After the release of her first album “Enas Mythos” (La Favola) for RCA records in Italy, Vana travelled to the UK and US, until four years later she met again with Vangelis in London, while he was working on his album “Heaven And Hell” during the construction of his own Nemo Studios. 
Vangelis offered Vana the lead vocal on his album, and the two worked together for about six months, on the album as well as a promotional concert in the Royal Albert Hall that was performed on the 11th of February 1976. In-between Vana also provided vocal input on Vangelis’ album "La Fête Sauvage", a film score for French director Frédéric Rossif. About this time Vana recalls “What I remember mostly is the laughter. Vangelis had a great sense of humour and we had lots of fun, we also shared spiritual awakenings and he was sensitive to the divine, even if he said he believed in nothing but the cosmos from where his inspiration came from”.
Note that an article in Backstage-magazine from February 1982 erroneously refers to Vana Veroutis as Vangelis’ wife. This is incorrect, Vana has confirmed they were never more than friends.
Throughout her career as a singer Vana Veroutis continued working with other musicians, at first recording the album “Ask Yourself” (1981) with her new wave-band in Wales, and later working again with Mikis Theodorakis on his album “The Faces Of The Sun” (1987). When she returned to Greece she settled on the Greek island of Mykonos. In the year 2000 Vana released her most personal album "The Voice Within", filled with ethnic songs gathering her innermost feelings. Her latest work is a cooperation with German musician Bernd Kistenmacher, singing on his album “Utopia” (2013)
Apart from singing, Vana Veroutis is also an interior decorator and the author of several spiritual novels and magazine articles about her spiritual travels. She currently lives in Athens, Greece.
Tracklist and credits
- ‘Ed Ora Si’
Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
English lyrics by Boris Bergman.
Italian version by Felice Piccarreda and Tommaso Biggiero. - ‘Tu C'Eri Gia'
Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
Italian version by Tommaso Biggiero.
Produced by Vangelis Papathanassiou and Jean-Pierre Rawson.
Arranged and directed by Jean Claude Vannier.
Discography
- 1969 Ed Ora Si’ / Tu C'Eri Gia' (Philips PF 363 748) Italy
The single is very rare and almost impossible to find. These songs are not available on CD.
Recording studio
Both songs are recorded in a studio in Rome.
Links